Bulldogs Roll In Final Non-League Game; Rout NJIT 79-48

Porter Braswell. (photo by Sam Rubin '95, Yale Sports Publicity)

Jan 09, 2010

Zampier Scores 15 Points To Lead Four Players In Double
Figures

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - All season long James Jones, The Joel E.
Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Men's Basketball at Yale, has
been stressing the importance of defense to his inexperienced team.
It appears the message has been received. In their final half
before the start of the Ivy League play, the Bulldogs held NJIT to
18.5 percent from the field en route to an easy 79-48 victory at
the John J. Lee Amphitheater.

NJIT made only five field goals over the final 20 minutes. In
its two-game winning streak, Yale has held its opponents to 31.7
percent shooting.

"We've had a couple of games at home to get comfortable and that
really helps," Jones said. "The guys are developing and we are
getting more consistent."

NJIT (5-11) led 12-6 after six minutes, but the Bulldogs scored
the next seven points. The score was tied at 19 with eight minutes
left, but Yale used a 13-4 run, capped by a Paul Nelson layup, to
seize control.

The Highlanders pulled to within six early in the second half,
but the Bulldogs quickly ran off nine straight points to regain
control. The lead grew to as many 35 points late in the second
half.

Zampier, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, was
4-of-9 from the field and made all six of his free throws in 20
minutes.

"We wanted to give him an opportunity to play before Brown [next
Friday]," Jones said.

Braswell, who had been struggling from the field, was 4-of-5
from three-point range.

"This is a big confidence booster going into the Ivy League
season," he said. "I've been getting some extra reps in practice
and been trying to keep my focus."

Yale (6-11) shot 50 percent from the field, made nine
three-pointers and was 18-of-21 from the free throw line.

The Bulldogs also had a 36-28 edge in rebounding.

After playing five games in the last 10 days, Yale is now off
until next Friday's Ivy opener against Brown. Tipoff at Lee
Amphitheater is slated for 7 p.m. The Bulldogs will play three of
their first four league games at home.